Timber Counties Won't Rush To Re-Hire Deputies

News that federal payments to timber counties are being revived for one more year has not put rural counties in Oregon in any mood to rehire sheriff's deputies and others they have already laid off.

With many counties having tapped reserve funds to ease the pain of budget cuts, much of the $100 million coming to Oregon will go toward staving off even deeper cuts during the next go-round on county budgets.

Lane County just went through $99 million in budget cuts, which among other things forced the early release of 100 inmates from the jail.

Lane County administrator Liane Richardson says she cannot recommend to commissioners that they restore services when they have an $8 million budget hole to fill next year, and there is no long-term funding solution.